Cold storage device
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Ice-lined cold storage devices face challenges in maintaining a consistent temperature above 2°C, especially when the ice-lining temperature is ≤0°C, as they need to balance the cooling effect of the ice-lining with the requirement to prevent the storage compartment temperature from falling below the desired minimum.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an inner liner with an electrical heating element between the cold storage compartment and the ice-lining, allowing for controlled heating and effective temperature regulation within the compartment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If the ice-lining temperature is lowered to ≤0°C to increase hold-over time, then the cold storage compartment temperature may fall below the desired minimum of 2°C
Solution Approach 1:
An inner liner is introduced as an intermediary layer between the ice-lining and the cold storage compartment. This inner liner acts as a thermal mediator that can be selectively heated to prevent excessive cooling of the compartment while allowing the ice-lining to maintain its low temperature for extended hold-over time.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating element is applied locally to the inner liner rather than heating the entire compartment. This localized heating approach allows specific regions of the inner liner to be warmed to prevent temperature drop in the cold storage compartment, while the ice-lining remains at ≤0°C to maintain long hold-over time.
2Temperature
If a heating arrangement is placed at the base of the cold storage compartment, then temperature control is achieved, but the volume available for storing vaccines is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The heating arrangement is moved from the vertical dimension (base of compartment) to the lateral dimension (inner liner surface). The heating element is applied to the inner liner that surrounds the compartment, distributing heat laterally across the compartment walls rather than occupying base space, thus preserving storage volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating element is applied as a thin film or flexible heating wire on the inner liner surface. This thin-film approach minimizes the space occupied by the heating arrangement itself, allowing maximum volume for vaccine storage while still providing effective thermal control.
3Temperature
If an electrical heating element is applied to the inner liner, then heat can be provided around the entire cold storage compartment, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible heating wire or thin heating film is applied directly to the inner liner surface. This flexible heating element can conform to the curved surfaces of the compartment, providing uniform heating around the entire volume without requiring complex rigid heating structures or multiple separate heating components.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner liner serves multiple functions: it provides the structural boundary of the compartment, acts as a thermal insulation layer, and serves as the substrate for the heating element. This multi-functionality reduces overall device complexity by combining several roles into a single component system.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This arrangement ensures that the temperature in the cold storage compartment remains above the desired minimum, even when the ice-lining temperature is low, thereby maintaining the integrity and effectiveness of stored vaccines and medical products.
Implementation Method 1
the ability in some cases to use heat conduction through the inner liner to facilitate the provision of heat around the entire cold storage compartment
Implementation Method 2
an ice-lining configured to absorb heat from the interior of the cold-storage device
Implementation Method 3
a cooling circuit configured, when in operation, to remove heat from the ice-lining
Data Source
AI summary
An ice-lined cold storage device (10) comprising: a cold storage compartment (15) arranged at an interior of the ice-lined cold storage device; an ice-lining (25a, 25b, 25c, 25d) configured to absorb heat from the interior of the cold-storage device; a cooling circuit (16) configured, when in operation, to remove heat from the ice-lining; an inner liner (22) arranged between the cold storage compartment and the ice-lining, the inner liner comprising a sheet material (23) having a major surface which faces towards the cold storage compartment and a major surface (27) which faces towards the ice-lining; is provided with an electrical heating element (26) arranged at one of the said major surfaces of the inner to provide heat to the interior of the cold storage device.